Health Foundations Birth Center

My care leading up to my delivery was mostly great, I chose Health Foundations for many reasons but most important to me was knowing who would be with me as I brought my baby into the world. It was imperative for me not to be shuffled between providers and end up with whomever was «on call» as you might experience in a more traditional hospital environment. So, my due date came and went, as I approached 42 weeks (the point at which you may no longer deliver with HF), I began to feel very stressed and worried. These feelings were met with general dissuasion. When I went in for an attempt at a natural induction technique I was absolutely astonished to learn that Amy had gone on vacation. It was never mentioned to me once, not even hinted at. I felt absolutely betrayed. I met my new midwife the day prior to my delivery and ended up as an emergency transfer to St. Joe’s. I felt absolutely neglected after this. The new midwife did my follow up appointment after delivery and I never heard from Amy again. I really couldn’t have been more shocked. I felt as though I weren’t accepted as part of the community after I was transferred to the hospital and the after care was abysmally minimal. Granted, this is now almost 5 years ago but they emailed today (first communication from HF since prebaby) asking for a review so, here it is.

I am very excited about this place! After reading the one negative review they have, I knew it was the place for me! I went for a tour and frankly no one pressured me about anything so I’m not sure what that review was about. In fact, I was asking about the natural things they offer. I want someone who specializes in natural birth! After going to my obgyn office, I was just even more convinced that Health Foundations is the place for me! I think it is wonderful that they not only have a great staff of midwives, they also have an obgyn if something abnormal arises. They also encourage the use of doulas which is a support system that hospitals many times do not encourage. As a trained doula myself, I understand how helpful that support can be!

We had a wonderful experience at Health Foundations, and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for personalized care throughout pregnancy, labor, birth, and post-​partum. Everyone from the midwives to the nurses to the front-​desk staff were wonderful, knowledgeable, and took the time to explain and give options. Our baby (currently 3 months old) is wonderfully healthy and thriving, and we believe that our health care at Health Foundations has much to do with that!

We had an absolutely wonderful experience with Health Foundations! We never felt like a number. We felt like an individual family with individual needs. The midwives were caring, attentive, gracious and very skilled at what they do. We had a very on-​again and off-​again labor, which was discouraging. However, we felt like the midwives at Health Foundations did everything they could to kick start our labor while putting us at ease at the same time. We are excited to head back to Health Foundations if we get pregnant in the future!

I can’t think of a better way to have a baby. I felt so supported at every step. This team is amazing.

My entire experience at Health Foundations was amazing!
I was so scared to become pregnant– so many unknowns. I had no idea what to expect through my journey and while in labor. The midwives and birth classes gave me and my husband all the information we needed to feel in charge of our birth plan. They encouraged me to learn all of my options, gave me detailed information on the spot with pros and cons to every decision (unbiased), encouraged healthy eating, and we truly could not have asked for a better place for our child to be born.
My labor was absolutely wonderful! It was even better than my ideal birth plan and the trust I had in the team allowed me to feel safe and supported. Amy and the team guided me through my labor, through my first hours of motherhood, and through my 6 weeks postpartum. I am eternally grateful for there love and support through my journey and would only wish this upon any other family.
We also have used Lindsay Deeb as our pediatrician who does well baby visits at Health Foundations and at her clinic Dakota Pediatrics and we highly recommend her!

I really wish we found this place for our 1^st birth, although I might not have been ready, so to speak. Having a midwife instead of an OB was a big enough thing for me coming from a family of doctors and having been on my way to med school myself. BUT — after a pretty good, but not excellent experience at St. Joe’s with the midwives, we went here.
And I loved it. The place is just nice — I feel like we had our appointments and gave birth at a pottery barn catalog. The staff were all very nice. They took their time with us. Didn’t feel rushed. Didn’t feel pressure.
The experience was just pleasant! As the husband, I felt included and able to be supportive to my wife, yet, the midwife and assistant were there appropriately for everything.
We’re going back for baby #3.

I cannot say enough good things about my experience with Health Foundations.
My prenatal visits were excellent. They made sure to schedule my visits with each of the three midwives so that we could get to know each other, and I was able to develop a sense of comfort and trust with all three. I always felt treated with the utmost respect and warmth, and felt that I had plenty of time to ask questions and talk about things that were on my mind.
Toward the end of our prenatal care, we were required to attend two classes at Health Foundations: early home care and complications. In the complications class, we learned about different things that could go awry during labor, and what the plan was if any complications occurred. In the early home care class, we learned about basic baby care and how to ease back into everyday life in the first couple of weeks postpartum. I believe the early home care class was key in healing and successful breastfeeding.
I chose to have a home birth, and my birth experience was wonderful. I felt supported and like I was in very competent hands. Toward the end of my pregnancy, my blood pressure started to creep up, and I was also «overdue» (I went into labor at 41 weeks and 1 day). The midwives were very responsible in managing these issues (further testing, ultrasounds, etc.), but I loved that they did not push any interventions, and I was able to have a completely natural birth. I have no doubt that if I had gone through a more conventional care provider that my story would have ended differently.
It is Health Foundations’ practice to facilitate mother-​baby bonding in that very important first hour after birth. I had great breastfeeding support (in fact, I have several friends who birthed through HF, and we have all breastfed successfully past one year), and felt like I could call with any concerns – this was a huge relief in that first week when you are a brand new parent!
One thing that I believe sets Health Foundations apart from other care providers is that they strive to create a community for parents. Each week they offer a free «mama’s milk hour» (where you can meet other nursing moms, weigh your baby and talk to a lactation consultant) and a free mom’s group (sometimes it’s just a place to connect with other moms, but sometimes they have someone come and talk about topics like essential oils, sign language, etc.). They also have childbirth classes and yoga classes, as well as special events every so often.
I would highly recommend Health Foundations to anyone! I plan to return if I have another baby someday!

After comparison-​shopping the other TC birth center options, Health Foundations was the clear choice for me. I respect their focus on informed consent at every juncture and I appreciate the level of education they provide. Amy and Amanda have been wonderful, attentive and thorough in our check-​ups, and respectful and encouraging of all our choices. They do suggest homeopathic cures occasionally, but as I do not believe that homeopathy is effective, I simply decline the suggestion politely and we move on.
The rest of the staff is also delightful. Everyone is cheerful, friendly, and eager to make a personal connection. I’ve met happy returning families at the classes held here, who have had births here before and are coming back to repeat the experience.
I am having trouble resolving the 2 negative reviews with my experience here. I will update after actually giving birth, but I have no reservations and trust Amy & Amanda completely to get me through a healthy, natural birth with minimal intervention, supporting me and my choices all the way!

I REALLY wanted to like Health Foundations. In fact, after I left the facility and knew it wasn’t for me, I was so disappointed that I cried!
The facility is just a few blocks from my house, and it is gorgeous. It is perfectly equipped and designed, lovely and comfortable.
The problem for me is the midwives. Amy, one of the owners, has a heavy cultural bias, a real hippy type. As soon as I walked in, her aloof, superior attitude immediately tipped me off that she was someone that would always disappoint me, and that I would simply fight with. There was no way I would get along with her in a tough situation in my life if I was already irritated with her attitude after 5 mintues.
Her presentation to her potential clients was similarly frustrating — she’s a person that will never answer a question directly. I kept trying to rephrase my question, and so did my husband, but we never got any real answers.
Going here, you will also have to tolerate Amy’s homeopathy — pushing the herbs and whatnot on you. Not my thing.
Their methods and culture is more important than your comfort or beliefs. Of course, if you have the same beliefs and culture as them, you will like this place. But it is definitely not for everyone. I would not even go there to do yoga, and I do a lot of yoga. I’ll stick with the Y, thanks, I don’t need a side of aromatherapy.
If you would like to use the Health Foundations facility, you have to use their midwives. Which was a dealbreaker for me. The hippy baggage is too much for me to deal with, so I decided to pass. I wish you could rent their space and bring your own providers.